EMERGENCY .... Woman on the EDGE!

I like to think that I'm a fairly calm, patient and level headed Mum.... well most of the time anyway! Some people close to me may beg to differ and I admit there have been moments where the volcano inside me has erupted and I have had what we call an adult tantrum.

Picture this .... it's not even 9.30 in the morning and I have found myself slamming doors and sending myself to the bedroom. The wardrobe closet is where I head and I shut the door behind me. I sit on the floor where it is deliciously dark and silent, and count to ten very very slowly. It's at this point that I give myself a good talking to.

I say: "Come on woman, pull yourself together!" A bit of positive re-inforcement: "I can do this, I really can, I'm an adult" Knowing that I've handled 28 Year 9 students in period 6 on a Friday for Maths, I can handle two little boys. I've climbed mountains, jumped off cliffs, even spent a year attempting to teach a young man called Sadam (no joke that was his name) whose main mission at 13 years was to make each girl in the class cry, and one day escape from jail. Then I say: "Whose idea was it to have our kids less than 2yrs apart?" Ours! So suck it up princess! ..... anyway you get the gist.

There was no major reason behind the tantrum. Maybe it was the continual whining, maybe it was the wrestling that always ended in tears, maybe it was the fact that I hadn't had my morning coffee yet, maybe it was that I never had any privacy, maybe it was the spilt milk, juice, water, food .....  etc etc

This little escape into the closet was my own personal emergency. In first aid we have an action plan that we follow in all emergency situations, its' called DRSABCD!

D .... DANGER: Assess the situation and always put yourself first, you are no good to anyone if you become injured.

R ... RESPONSE: Is the patient asleep or unconscious? An asleep patient can be roused. "Talk and Touch" is the best way to find out.

S ... SEND for HELP: If your patient is unresponsive then at this point ring 000 for help.

A ... AIRWAYS: Check that nothing is blocking the airways, if so then roll into recovery position and scoop out the object.

B ... BREATHING: Get down and put your ear next to their mouth, tilt your head and watch your hand on their chest. "Look, Listen and Feel" Look for the chest to rise, listen for breathing and feel the breath and chest rise.

C ... COMPRESSIONS: If there is abnormal or no breathing then start compressions immediately. Nipple, nipple in the middle, push down 1/3 of the chest. 30 compressions, 2 breaths at a rate of 100/minute.

D ... DEFIBRILLATION: A life saving machine that anyone can use. They're now found in many places like train stations, shopping centres and the airport. They are simple to use and really are what saves lives.

So the above is the action plan for any emergency situation. Memorise it: DRSABCD. Repeat after me: DRSABCD. I'm serious, do it!

In my own way I followed the emergency action plan I teach in first aid. The danger was removed from the situation, that being me. I was responsive so no need to call in the help yet. The airways were clear, I took nice big deep breaths and returned myself to the situation at hand. I was the calm, patient, level-headed Mum that I aspired to be. There was no need for any further action. Except maybe a strong coffee and some semi-silence with the watching of play school.

When I think about it there were some major events that may have lead to my mountain erupting. But you know what, everyone has problems and it's called life. In general my kids are happy, loving and well-rounded boys. We laugh and hug daily, and this is what keeps me going. I don't believe that I am any better or worse Mum than the next woman. I do my best in each situation with the skills I have already acquired and the new ones that I am learning on a daily basis. I still have the occasional tantrum and really in the end all I need is an action plan just like DRSABCD to help me deal with life. No one ever said it was going to be easy!

Drowning .. and .. Dragons!

D is for ... DROWNING:

As a family we LOVE the water! Whether it is the beach, river, lake, pool, clam shell or slip and slide. We love anything water related. As kids my brother and I spent every second we could in the water, swimming, skiing, windsurfing, sailing, surfing, the list was endless. We were so very lucky to have the opportunity to do these activities. One thing I want to pass on to my boys is my love for water. I think sometimes I take for granted my ability to swim, it is so second nature. But at some stage I learnt how to do this. One of my top goals as a parent is for my kids to learn how to swim and become confident in the water. 

Royal Life Saving Society Australia listed some statistics in their report for 2011:

- 41% of drowning occurred in summer

- 77% of those that drowned between July 2010 to June 2011 were male

- 43% of 0-4yr olds drowned in swimming pools

- 37% of all the drownings in the year recorded were aged 55+

So it can happen to anyone, anywhere at anytime where there is enough water to become immersed in. Scary - yes!! Key message - STAY VIGILANT!

Some great advice from Kids Alive is:

- Fence the pool (or spa!)

- Shute the gate

- Teach your kids to swim

- Supervise at all times (this includes bath time)

- Learn to resuscitate

Do you do all of the above? If not, why not?

There has been way too many drownings at the beach already this summer. Please again STAY VIGILANT, make sure the little ones are within arms reach, avoid rips, swim between the flags, respect the ocean! Alcohol and swimming are also not a good mix. This is all common sense but we still see so many cases in the media of drowning and near drowning, it's heart breaking.

What to do?

- Follow DRSABCD 

- Remove patient from the water (please do not rescue a drowning victim beyond your swimming ability)

- Beware of possible vomiting, immediately roll patient onto their side to clear the airway

- All patients suffering from near drowning or who have been resuscitated from a drowning event MUST be observed by medical staff

Please enjoy the amazing wonders of water 

.... but respect and be aware of its power.

D is also for ..... DRAGONS:

So did you know 2012 is the year of the Dragon? Today celebrates the start of the Chinese New Year so I thought it fitting we learn a little about them. Dragons are very cool legendary creatures. When I think of dragons I think of large lizard like creatures that breathe fire and have bat-like wings. They can be a little scary and some lady dragons even have soft spots for donkeys. :-) 

Some things you might not know about dragons:

- the Greek origin of the word dragon is 'to see clearly'

- European dragons more than often have wings

- Chinese dragons resemble large snakes

- they have been said to be wiser than humans and ..

   ..... have some form of magic or superpower.

We love dragons in our house, they are often hiding under Mums bed, are a cause of lots of giggling and are just a little feared. Whatever your belief of dragons they form an important part in our childrens' imagination and this is something I believe we should treasure and encourage.

~V~

C is for ..... CPR and a Competition!!

CPR stands for Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. Sounds scary hey? Sounds messy? Sounds like hard work? Well you know what .... yes it is!  Hate to say it but the alternative is not good. By performing CPR you are keeping the heart pumping, moving blood around the body and delivering oxygen to the cells. You are keeping the body viable until help arrives, you are making a vital difference in saving a life!!

When do we perform CPR? 
- when the patient is unconscious,
- shows no signs of life and ...
- is not breathing normally.

How do we perform CPR on an adult?
- Place patient on their back on a firm, flat surface
- Kneel beside chest and place heel of hand between nipples ('nipple nipple in the middle')
- Place other hand on top of first, keep arms straight and shoulders over hands
- Push in a downwards motion on the breastbone to a depth of 1/3 the chest
- Complete 30 compressions
- Tilt head back opening the airway, block nose and give 2 rescue breaths
- Continue with another 30 compressions, 2 breaths at a rate of 100 compression per minute
(If for any reason you are unwilling/unable to perform the rescue breaths then continue with the compressions until help arrives)

	Adult (9yrs +)	Child (1-8yrs)	Infant (<1yr)
Compressions	30	30	30
Breaths	2	2	2
Rate per minute	100	100	100
Depth Compression	1/3 chest	1/3 chest	1/3 chest
Head Tilt	Yes	Yes	NO
Method	2 hands	1 or 2 hands	2 Fingers

Note: the above information is for both for one or two operator CPR.

When do we stop CPR?
- when trained help arrives ie ambulance
- when the patient shows signs of life (then place them in the recovery position)
- or when you can not physically go on any further and/or the scene becomes unsafe

The above information is intended as a guide only. 'First Aid Training' is highly recommended as it provides hands on practise with mannikin's that simulate real life patients and situations.  The courses provide further essential information and help you to develop the confidence to know what to do in any emergency. 


Serious part over and now for the fun part ...... Competition Time!

What I would like to know is 2 things: firstly tell me about how you console your little one when they get hurt, secondly how did your Mum and/or Dad console you when you were little and you were injured. To enter please complete the survey found here.

The top 3 stories will each WIN a 'Kiss It Better Bag' wallet!!

Thank you and good luck.

~v~

BIrthdays, Bubbles, Beaches, Birds and Bees

Our alphabet first aid finds us in the week of ‘B’. Fitting really as it has been a huge week of birthdays with both grandmothers and our oldest turning 4 (not everyone has turned 4!). The silly season continues for us well into January. I originally wanted to talk to you about bees, which I will, but I would also like to introduce another of my loves which is taking photos. I am by no means a professional but I do love capturing wonderful memories. So please enjoy the pics and the read.

How cool are bubbles! What a phenomenon of nature. A thin film of soapy water filled with air that has fascinated my kids since they were tiny and it has always been a great way to get them outside for some fresh air. Has anyone ever made their own mixture at home? Love to hear your favourite recipe!

This one is of our oldest in four year old heaven at the beach with the waves and birds, great way to spend a birthday!

So on to the bees ...  you know it's the season when your littlest comes up to you and says 'Look Mum, a bee' and sure enough in his little curled hand is a little flying insect. My heart starts pumping until I notice that the little thing is not alive. The Biology teacher in me finds bees fascinating.  I love that they can see all colours except red, that they have 5 eyes and that they have such an important role in the fertilisation of flowers. The queen bee being female is the only one to reproduce. The worker bees again are female and clean, feed and take care of the offspring. While the drone bees are the males and their only job is to mate with the queen. What's up with that hey?!

Let's get back to my little one with his proud find. As a Mum I'm not the biggest fan of bees as they sting, and boy can it hurt! Then of course I worry that they will have a severe allergic reaction. My boys love to run bare feet and our backyard is covered with little flowers and little hovering bees. 

So how do you treat a bee sting? Firstly if the stinger is still there try to scrap it off sideways. The area may look red, start to get itchy and painful. It is recommended you wash the area with soapy water and then apply an ice pack. Ideally ice the area for 20 minutes and then again in a couple of hours. My kids are lucky to leave a cold face washer on a bump for a minute so I know how hard this can be. A firm compression bandage may help with the pain. Calamine lotion may help the itching and ant-histamine medication can help if the child is old enough.

When to seek further help:

- lots of pain at the site that does not settle down within a few hours

- if swelling or itching gets worse within a 24hr period

- or if you are worried for any reason


A severe allergic reaction, or 'Anaphylactic Reaction' can be life-threatening. If your patient has a history or shows signs of a severe allergic reaction call 000 immediately.
Signs of this include the following:
- swelling lips or tongue
- any breathing problems
- vomiting or dizziness
- cold, pale, sweaty skin
- rapid or weak pulse
- may develop unconsciousness


Trust your instinct as a parent and remember to always believe a child if they say they have been bitten by something. 

~V~

Week 1 of 2012 ..... 'A' is for AIRWAYS

How do we survive? For me survival includes being surrounded by the ones I love, fresh air, great food, cold apple cider and a daily dose of laughter. Ok so seriously, how do we survive??


Take yourself back to year 8 Science, remember your teacher attempting to engage you through a variety of activities. Learning that when we breathe the air enters the lungs via the airway and reaches the small structures known as alveoli. This being the site of gas exchange. Oxygen in, carbon dioxide out. Without this exchange the bottom line is... we die!


If the airway becomes blocked for any reason this can lead to brain cell damage. One of the most important aspects of first aid training that we teach is to keep the airway clear. Some hints when dealing with an unconscious patient:
- if needed remove any material in the patients mouth
- in an adult gently tilt head back supporting the jaw
- if breathing normally place in recovery position and call for help
- if not breathing normally commence CPR and seek urgent medical assistance


'A' is for Airways: Keep Clear at all times!
(and if you run into your year 8 Science teacher in the street say hello, you may just make their day!)
~V~

Welcome to ... a new year ... a new era ... and a new blog!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for visiting my blog. I can't wait to share with you my knowledge, experiences, successes, mistakes, dreams and adventures. Enjoy the ride!   ~V~